Afropunk Festival London: 5 reasons you need to attend this summer

The lineup for Afropunk Festival London has been revealed and it’s safe to say the festival is gonna to be bigger and even better than its inaugural debut in London last year. The WGSN team will be on the ground snapping street style, listening to bonafide stars and emerging artists, as well as celebrating the themes of diversity and inclusion.

Come along for the ride, here are 5 reasons you should not miss out on the festival of the summer:

The extensive line up

Thoughtful curation sees grime, punk, hip-hop, reggae, roots, soul and pop genres collide. Expect to see UK based artists in the limelight from rapper Little Simz to Connie Constance (who we recommended here). But it’s not just limited to a London postcode, the great thing about the festival is the diverse selection of music on offer, expect to see everyone from all female collective GAL-DEM to Willow Smith to The Internet. Check out the full festival line up here.

A Celebration of diversity

The ethos is acceptance and love, celebrated via sound. AFROPUNK celebrates multiculturalism and diversity for people of all races, genders, colours and tastes. A message close to our hearts at WGSN and we’ve been shouting about this topic A LOT. The fashion world is getting on board after seasons of political, empowering and positive messaging within T-shirt graphics on the catwalks and models used in campaigns and runway collections, it’s time to put words into action as we enter a new era of love.

Thrift Market and Food Market

The festival has a thrift market, showcasing one-of-a-kind, bespoke items inspired by African art and textiles. Another main attraction is the food on offer, from food trucks to pop-up restaurants, delivering a range of dishes that give a nod to the diverse cultures represented at the festival.

New Location

Last year’s event was a one-day special at Alexandra Palace. But this year, Afropunk has expanded to a full weekend at Printworks. This large scale industrial space will not only be host to the music, but the marketplace that holds the creatives, designers, exhibitions and food vendors.

Street style

Afropunk encourages individuality, push the boundaries of fashion and express yourself, anything goes, there are no rules. We’ll be on hand to capture the eclectic mix.